Ok , there was some wind !
Otherwise it was a real DLG deal of a day !

I took my modified whip to the park ..
Even played in a few thermals when the wind backed off !
I am so tired , man I was there for a while .

That wind was playing with me , but when it eased off I was able to keep the Whip in the rising air . Unfortunately the sink hole tends to live up to its name and when the lift vanished the air became sink and the whip came down like a lead balloon .

There was just enough lift to tease me for quite some time ( keep me on the hook ) .
For better days !

Still , a good day at the park with just a tempting amount of thermal action .

The Crash Invader is sketchy to fly I have to say - yes in it's defence it was windy .
Once you cut the throttle the Crash Invader drops it's nose hard , and it took almost all the up elevator to keep it level ..
That factory CG recommendation might be a little sketchy .

Rates are 100% and Expo is 50% for both Ele and Ail .

After flying the Crash Invader with the Taranis Q x7 Tx , I really dont think the factory Tx ever stood a chance of flying the Crash Invader .
It looks nice ( Crash Invader ) , but darn it to heck folks there are much better wings out there .
Is the Crash Invader suitable for Noobs , no no no ! ( Dont even go there )
Did I have fun flying the Crash Invader , yeah I did ! It put a smile on my dial !
Would I recommend the Crash Invader ?
When Hell freezes over I would .
But if your looking to mod the Crash Invader ( like I did to get it to fly ) , then for experienced model flyers it could be a hoot .
And on that final I was pulling just about full up , and it nosed in because I relaxed my elevator stick just a little ( Got to watch the video )
I think that CG needs to move rearward . But it flies so sketchy !!!!
It has been glued again , function tested , and will fly again ..
Though I will move that battery back in the fuse and wait for some less windy weather .
It was 45kmh + yesterday , and tomorrow looks to be 24kmh + , so good weather for flying is a little rare right now .
In fact I was desperate enough to download WarThunder once again .. ( Love and hate WT )
Love the Game / hate the BS .

I pulled out the Factory Rx ( Rx and Tx will be re used for something else - budgety )
The brushed motor was given a connector !

Then I took the 20A brushed ESC and plugged it .

I just did a current / function test and everything works as it should .
Factory it pulled around 4.6A , and with the new ESC it pulls exactly the same ( around 4.6A ) Thats 2s folks .
Next I need to solder up a 4ch Rx , and the Darth Invader should be re born after it's near death experience .
Hopefully be test flown shortly as apposed to test crashed

Images

Got some ESC's from HK .
I saw some brushless ESC's so had to buy them .
First is a 1s 3A ESC for brushless motors .. I will have to solder up some adaptor plugs for it so I can play with it .
The 10A brushless is for the MG800 , Hopefully fix the ESC issues it currently has .
The 20A brushed ESC looks to be some what variable in it's usability , will definitely have to read the instruction sheet .
Might be good for testing brushed motors ?

The brushed ESC's certainly will give me some options , that 20A one might end up in the invader . ( ?)

It was time to re-visit the FMS Vtail ( 800mm )
I really like this plane , but I really hate the factory prop .

So it was time to re-prop the FMS 800 .
The prop I chose to use is VIA HobbyKing .
A 4.5x3 which comes in a twin pack ( 2 folding props ) for under $5 Ozzi bananas .

A 50% throttle ( on tx ) I got 2.2 amp current draw and at full throttle I saw some 7.3 amp .
If mem serves the ESC is 6A , but giving a full throttle run for over 30 seconds the ESC only became warm .

Checking the thrust , Power to weight is very close to 1:1 at full throttle .

Hmmm , so at what throttle setting will the FMS fly ?
This prop seems to be better than the factory supplied one ( same as the Ezio ) , and I despise the factory prop .
Peak current draw on the factory prop was around 5A , so this new prop is putting on more load .
But if I can fly @ under 50% throttle ( 1/3 would be nice ) , then I will call it sweet !

UPDATE!

I checked the weather and there is a TON of rain on the way apparently .
So I rushed the the Football field for a fly .
And of course the wind picked up for me when I got there .

THE Prop !
What the factory prop did @ 100% throttle , this new prop does @ around 60% throttle .
I flew between 40% and 60% trying to keep to 50% most of the time .. ( 2.2A )
The wind kind of challenged my preconceived throttle settings !

Images

I don't know what to say = I'm just not good enough to fly it !
All I did was crash the Invader till I broke it !

Whats the problem ?
I can't play with the supplied remote .
Left stick is Elevator , right stick is throttle and aileron .
I simply can't do it .

It goes against every fibre of my Mode 2 brain .

Anyhow , when I got to my CG test spot , the wind started to pick up .
This kind of makes CG testing a little challenging with a new model .
Also the configuration of the Tx really messed with me ..
Every single time that something happened that required REFLEXES to correct the sticky situation = I just made it worse .
I lost count of the number of times I smacked terra firma with the Invader .

Currently the Invader is resting and being glued back together .
Will I try again = HELL NO !

I will remove the flight board and put it away with the Tx for another project where no mixing is required .
Just does not work for me in this wing - Might be ok in a glider .

I have already ordered a brushed ESC , so will pop in a micro 4ch Rx and just bind to my Taranix Q x7 .

So is there a gripe !
YES = The supplied battery is garbage ..
I tried to charge it and the voltage jumped all over the place .
I tried to discharge it and the voltage dropped immediately and the charger stopped .
Cant charge the battery , cant discharge it . = Junk ..

First there was price , $66 Bananas . $44.40 Green Backs
Second , the Rx ...
It looks to be a 3ch job and takes regular servo plugs .. ( Yes the Invader has servos in the wing )
Also it has a inbuilt ESC for brushed motors .. So the Rx itself looks to be interesting ( has a afterlife )
Just wondering what protocol the Invader runs , Rx has a bind button .
Third , it be RTF ...

So , is it all good , bad or ugly ?
I guess thats whats interesting , what ?

I was ho humming about the 2nd 450x wing , and whilst doing so my finger slipped on the buy button and I ordered a 1103 .
Hmmm , originally I was thinking WL toys F959 flight board and motor / folding prop - Combo ( Which I have ready to rock and or stroll )

Hmmm , 2s Brushed , or 2s brushless ... ( Too many choices man ! )

The 450x needs to be a little heavier and 2s would be the way to go .
That 8520 has killed one battery already .
And I can only assume 2s will be more gentle on the battery ..
Will have to test this little / tiny / minuscule motor as soon as possible .

I am soooo Peeved right now !
Spent all that time soldering the motor to a 6A esc only for it to run like a bag full of Oranges .
Then I soldered on some connectors , and plugged the motor into one of my motor test ESC's . ( Video )
And still wont run ..
I had a Ducted fan motor do this to me and it fried ( puff the magic dragon ) the ESC ..
ESC's look to be ok ( probably as it's such a small motor ) , but PArking Lot ! I hate getting rubbish ! ...

2019 might be the year of junk from China ( for me ) , just too many faulty products .
Come on China , implement some QC .

I think the cold effected the models a little harsh .
Flight times were down , power was down . Brrrrr !

F959 .. Flies reasonably well . Not sure how effective the cam is , but a cheap cam on a cheap plane ( see video )
Ezio .. Wow the new battery was good ( 79% left when I got home and checked )
450x Looks like the 450x has become a Nonotech killer , my battery of choice Nano 260mAh 1s puffed up about 100%
Firstar 200 , flies really well . I was actually doing rolls
FMS Vtail - Down on power , that prop bites . ( Same as original Ezio ) I will have to look at a new prop for the FMS .. Might also need a new ESC if the new prop loads the motor too much . I like the way it flies , but I hate the prop . In the cold this morning , even 100% throttle felt weak . On the other hand the Ezio was flying with very little throttle .

Oh well ! Was a day out ( little wind ) . These days be few and far between .
Oh and ...... The grumpy old man was there of course ! And he walked out into the field when I was flying without warning .
And yelling something about ( dont you know the rules ? )

Got me another budget motor from Banggood ..
Wont bother with a link since no one is interested in anyway ...

The only prop I had on hand to try was a 8045 ( 8 x 4.5 ) Electric Prop ..

2s Battery ( 2200mAh )

7100 RPM @ 9.6 amp

3s Battery ( 2200mAh )

9150 RPM @ 15.5 amp

Even though there was not a huge RPM difference between the 2s and 3s , one really could feel the thrust difference . I cant help but feel that this motor would wind out some once the motor was in a plane and moving forward . On the 2s battery the motor remained completely cool to the touch and on the 3s battery it became lukewarm . So the motor did notice the load under the 3s battery , but not overly so . Especially considering that the recommended prop is a 8 x 4 on 3s .

I would say that this motor would be very happy on a 2s battery and a 8045 prop ( I like the peak current draw ) . I would be very tempted to even try a 9x4 prop with a 2s battery to see how the motor handles it .

Soldering Day :

Lots of things needed soldering , and with the wind blowing rather hard outside the soldering iron got a work out .
The R4 needs a Rx , so I had to solder the pins to one of the FS2A Rx I keep handy . Also needed to do a battery lead .
Also have several projects that need doing ..

GT Power Tachometer

Goodness me ! I love and hate these !
I love that they do multi blades , the Tach is relatively cheap .
Butt! , I really hate the button batteries .
These tacho's have parasitic drain . And the batteries are always flat when I need the tacho .
So I will be doing a AAA mod shortly and run it on some rechargeable AAA batteries in a external cradle .
Might have to do a thing on the mod !

Should be RTF .. Brushed / 2s / flying wing ...
I saw some video and thought how interesting / fun it looked .
So after a search I found one on FEE-Bay for $66 Ozzi Bananas ..
That's pretty much 2 packets of sig's here in Oz . ( Around $1 each death stick )
And I promised myself I would not buy more models ( Till Christmas )

Ok so after this , no more models till Christmas !

Depron DLG ( 700mm )
Or as I call it the R4 ...
Yes , the project is back on track .
Lessons learned from R1 - R2 and the R3 will be applied to the R4 .
Windy and more windy over here ATM .
Next week might offer some flying opportunity .
R4 should be ready by then and I should have the Invader by then as well .
+ really looking to re-visit several models with heavier batteries ( better CG ) ( Firstar and Ezio )

Seriously ! I have more power @ 50% throttle with the 8520 than I had at 100% throttle with the 720 .
Heck , the 8520 actually melted the propeller hub on the first prop I tried ...
This 2nd prop has been glued to the motor output shaft ..

Most of the flight is 50% throttle , but near the end I crank the throttle to 100% ..
This little wing can fly fast ..

But that was what it needed from the start , MORE power !
Those early flights were simply seriously under powered ..

1) FMS 800 V tail
Flew off the board so to speak , no rates / no expo .
The model does need some down elevator trim , but I will take care of that next time with some sub trim .
Most of the flight was about 50% throttle .

2) CG
The CG ended up being about 40mm from the L/E . Instruction manual say's 35mm and I would say that was a fair call .
At 40mm it's not overly sensitive ( no rates - no expo ) . But the model does turn tight .

4) Flying weight ( 156 grams )
Originally it was 154 grams , but I needed to stuff some weight up the models bee hive to get a better CG than 25mm from the L/E
Love the weight , it simply allows the FMS 800 V tail to fly really slow . Once the elevator is trimmed so that the model does not climb but rather holds straight and level . It will be a joy to fly slow .

5) Stability
Yes and no . It is very stable . But that straight wing does effect roll stability . So attention is needed , and no - it's not really a hands off model . No where as bad as say the MG800 , but not as good as say a Firstar 200 .

6) Propeller
Yeah , not the best - that's for sure !
Yes you can fly @ 50% throttle , but not much less than that as...Continue Reading

A) There are a lot of similarities to the Ezio 800 , HK may have taken liberties . Especially as the prop is exactly the same .
B) Servo leads are SHORT !
C) 6A ESC
D) I think this model is intended as 2s around 350/450mAh
E) 2 servos take care of everything
F) V tail control rods were - WAY - Way - way out ( pre formed ) .. Not sure who was on the job that day - but I had to re do it , and it is tricky .
G) V tail is in 2 parts and needs gluing in place
H) Wing is held in place with a single screw . ( Philips head ) A hex screw would be better .
I) That prop !!!!! = Same as on the EZIO 800 , which was useless !

First thing I will do is check how much thrust the motor prop combo produces ( check current as well )
If thats ok , I will move onto soldering up a 4ch FS2A Rx .. and then assembling the FMS 800 V-tail trying for a decent CG ..
I have a small assortment of batteries to try ..

UPDATE

Current draw on a 2s = 4.7/4.8A to a peak of almost 5A
Thrust seems to be ok , looks like this motor might turn higher RPM on 2s
CG = No way ..
CG is sweet less Rx and battery ..
Will need weight in the tail or it will be nose heavy .
Just about to solder up a Rx now .

UPDATE 2

Rx is soldered and in place
Everything has been trimmed ready for CG Games ..

Seriously , the CG is perfect without a battery ...
Flying weight ATM with a Nonotech 370mAh 2s is 154 grams , but the CG is 25mm from the L/E
Power to weight . might be around 80%
There will be required weight in the tail for CG , which should probably be around 40 to 50mm from the L/E
Hmmm , what does the FMS manual say ? ( FMS say's 35mm from the L/E )

A battery came in the post = GN3 2s 450mAh 80 - 160C ( Thats crazy discharge )
Obviously a hot little quad battery . But will fit in the Ezio 800 no problems .
CG looks to be about the same as with the larger battery I used in my 2nd flight . ( Usable CG for the experienced )
Still might need a little dead weight in the nose though for a good CG .

It's not hard ..
I just picked the easiest switch to use , and set it up as my launch switch .
When I launch , I just wait for the DLG to level out and hit the switch and thats it .
Ok , might take a few launches to get your offsets in the sweet spot . But once it's done !

There are quite a few flight control boards out there in the world .
I dare say most of the micro helicopter boards could be re-used in say a micro glider or something . ( as long as you have the transmitter )

If you have gone down the multi protocol road :

1) WL Toys V911 flight control board ( 2 servos built in ) Flysky protocol ( 9x )
This is a great board for projects . Has two built in servos and does not support more . You can solder in a brushed motor if you like .
Board is 1s or 4.2v with a charged battery . I love this board , easy to use and easy to mix . Was cheap a few years ago , but has recently gotten scarce and a little expensive . So if you know some one with a V911 heli that has become ? , might want to make it yours !

Images

Yes , it is time for a dedicated Ezio 800 battery .
Some may know already that the Ezio 800 is battery challenged . ( Most batteries wont fit and those that do wont give you CG )
I ordered some batteries from HK ..
Took the plastic caps off ( Care needed as the tabs are fragile - hence the plastic cap )

Re solder the negative wire to the negative terminal on the second battery ..
Connect the negative and positive terminals on the two batteries so as to connect the batteries in series . ( 2s - 8.4v fully charged )

Glue , tape the cells together .. I needed weight so taped them .

Then I used hot glue to seal the terminals ( they be fragile ) , the hot glue should releave all stress and give the terminals strength .